Dame Julie Walters reveals why she's found getting older a 'relief'

Dame Julie Walters has opened up about the ageing process, revealing that she's finding it a 'relief'.

Speaking in the December issue of Prima, out now, the award-winning actress explained why she has found getting older 'liberating'.

'Quite honestly, I'm finding it a relief being 67,' she told Prima. 'Less is expected of you in some ways – so everything is a bit of a bonus.

'I don't have so much to prove; I'm not scrabbling for my position in the business and there is something about not having to be a young woman any more that feels liberating.'

She added: 'I'm more able to be myself. And I'm more able to say what I think.'

Chatting about her health and fitness regime, Julie revealed that she has a relaxed approach – and confessed to having an 'unhealthy relationship' with sweet treats...

'I do care about looking after myself,' she said. 'Occasionally, I think, "I must do 10,000 steps", but I hardly ever do! I'm aware of it but it's much harder to do when I'm out filming and routine goes out the window.

'It's the same with my diet,' she added. 'It's true that the camera adds pounds and sometimes before filming I think, "Oh, I shouldn't be fat for this part".

'I knew that my characters in Indian Summers and Mamma Mia! wouldn't be fat, but Mrs Bird and Mrs Weasley could be any old size.'

Revealing that she's not a fan of dieting, Julie continued: 'And losing weight is so depressing and miserable, denying yourself all the time.

'I confess to having an unhealthy relationship with sugar. I stayed in a lovely hotel when we were filming Paddington and each evening there would be four chocolate bars in the fridge – and I'd eat every single one of them!

'Eventually, I had to ask them to stop leaving them in the fridge because I knew I'd just eat them.'

Read the full interview with Julie Walters in the December issue of Prima, out now. Paddington 2 will be released in UK cinemas on 10 November.